Pets..when to just let go..

[Looselugs]

Winston my 14 year old lab that I`ve had since he was 6 weeks old. Sleeps right next to my bedside all these years.Diagnose with cancer 6 months ago.. He`s starting to struggle with his sleep during the night. I have to constantly give him rubs and let him out.. That I don`t mind..but it`s got to come to a point in time when it`s time to let go.. The last thing I want to see is him suffer! I owe him that much!

He still wags his tail strongly when he sees me and gets around good after a slow start. (He like all labs hips are the first to go.) He is probably 90%deaf. When he was younger I taught him sign language with the nod of my head or twist of my head.. never thought then how important that would be today.

He is family and it`s hard to say when.

Anyone else dealing or has been thru this issue before?

 

[gardenweasel]

Winston my 14 year old lab that I`ve had since he was 6 weeks old. Sleeps right next to my bedside all these years.Diagnose with cancer 6 months ago.. He`s starting to struggle with his sleep during the night. I have to constantly give him rubs and let him out.. That I don`t mind..but it`s got to come to a point in time when it`s time to let go.. The last thing I want to see is him suffer! I owe him that much!

He still wags his tail strongly when he sees me and gets around good after a slow start. (He like all labs hips are the first to go.) He is probably 90%deaf. When he was younger I taught him sign language with the nod of my head or twist of my head.. never thought then how important that would be today.

He is family and it`s hard to say when.

Anyone else dealing or has been thru this issue before?

yeah....diabetic cat..went blind(that was the worst) but we didn`t put her down for quite a long while even when blind....she still had some joy(at least it seemed so)...we`d take her out on the deck and in the grass and she would skulk around sniffing everything....but,then it got really bad..appetite went...disorientation..

has the dog lost weight?...how`s the appetitie?...sounds like he still has some joy in his life...anything they can do for pain?....

btw..our cat hated going to the vet..it was like torture for her.....so we had a mobile vet we knew come and do it here at the house...that made it much easier on our cat...matter of fact it was so smooth the cat had no idea...she went to sleep and then they gave her the stuff that finished it...very peaceful...

I don`t know if they can do it at home with that size dog(I have no clue)...

you certainly have my sympathy.....my heart goes out to you...what a tough decision...

 

[McKenzie]

Winston my 14 year old lab that I`ve had since he was 6 weeks old. Sleeps right next to my bedside all these years.Diagnose with cancer 6 months ago.. He`s starting to struggle with his sleep during the night. I have to constantly give him rubs and let him out.. That I don`t mind..but it`s got to come to a point in time when it`s time to let go.. The last thing I want to see is him suffer! I owe him that much!

He still wags his tail strongly when he sees me and gets around good after a slow start. (He like all labs hips are the first to go.) He is probably 90%deaf. When he was younger I taught him sign language with the nod of my head or twist of my head.. never thought then how important that would be today.

He is family and it`s hard to say when.

Anyone else dealing or has been thru this issue before?

Yep, had cats that got a fatal disease, had to put 'em down. 3 of them, the mom and 2 of her boy cats. It's better to put them down when the suffering gets to be too much. You'll never "get over it" but the best thing to do is wait a while then get another pet.

Sorry, man, I have felt your pain and nobody can say anything to make it any easier. God be with you.

 

[buddy]

Friend had a dog that he said, "She taught me how to love." When the time came, he took her to the vet and petted her as they gave her the injection. He was still petting her as she died.

When the quality of life is gone, I believe putting an animal down is an act of mercy.

 

[Looselugs]

yeah....diabetic cat..went blind(that was the worst) but we didn`t put her down for quite a long while even when blind....she still had some joy(at least it seemed so)...we`d take her out on the deck and in the grass and she would skulk around sniffing everything....but,then it got really bad..appetite went...disorientation..

has the dog lost weight?...how`s the appetitie?...sounds like he still has some joy in his life...anything they can do for pain?....

btw..our cat hated going to the vet..it was like torture for her.....so we had a mobile vet we knew come and do it here at the house...that made it much easier on our cat...matter of fact it was so smooth the cat had no idea...she went to sleep and then they gave her the stuff that finished it...very peaceful...

I don`t know if they can do it at home with that size dog(I have no clue)...

you certainly have my sympathy.....my heart goes out to you...what a tough decision...

Thanks gardenweasel! He has not lost weight yet.but he is now taken on 2 times the food and 2 times the water.His quality of life is still fair at this point but ..

If we had a mobile vet that would be awesome!! I have to carry Winston thru the doors.Shiver the whole time there and last there urinated in the floor he has never done that anywhere before.To my knowledge he has never even pissed or shit in our yard..always took it to the woods.

Sorry about your cat.I guess this is apart of life that sucks.

 

[Looselugs]

Yep, had cats that got a fatal disease, had to put 'em down. 3 of them, the mom and 2 of her boy cats. It's better to put them down when the suffering gets to be too much. You'll never "get over it" but the best thing to do is wait a while then get another pet.

Sorry, man, I have felt your pain and nobody can say anything to make it any easier. God be with you.

Thanks man .. I`m on that line where its quality of life and suffering..

Sorry about your cats.

 

[william13]

i feel for lugs ... i see how much my mom depend on her dog company and love .... enjoy your time with him ...... all dog go to heaven !

 

[Looselugs]

Friend had a dog that he said, "She taught me how to love." When the time came, he took her to the vet and petted her as they gave her the injection. He was still petting her as she died.

When the quality of life is gone, I believe putting an animal down is an act of mercy.

I agree 100% buddy.

 

[Looselugs]

i feel for lugs ... i see how much my mom depend on her dog company and love .... enjoy your time with him ...... all dog go to heaven !

thanks william! I guess I`m looking for that happy spot between holding on and letting go .

 

[william13]

thanks william! I guess I`m looking for that happy spot between holding on and letting go .

seen that picture so many times seems like i know him ....... you will know in your heart what when you found that spot ..........

 

[Old School]

been thru it twice...

both times I waited to long..

it's certainly one of the hardest things I have ever done..

sounds like it time ...I carried mine way to long..

 

[Looselugs]

been thru it twice...

both times I waited to long..

it's certainly one of the hardest things I have ever done..

sounds like it time ...I carried mine way to long..

I had a dachshund, mixed(Kasey). Great dog!. She lived to be 13 but I held on to her to long. . She had gone blind and loss sense of smell,, had to walk behind her to make sure she got back in the house. It was selfish on my part to hold on. Should of let her go 8 months earlier..

 

[fatdaddycool]

Looselugs,
Unfortunately, I've been through this many times. Whether it was one of my long time fosters or one of my dogs I've actually "adopted or owned", they all hurt more than I ever think I can bear. I cannot say anything that will comfort your despair at present but I can help to ease your internal struggle at present.
If your best pal is in pain and it can be eased with medication without any side effects and he can still be comfortable than I'd say go ahead.
I think your asking yourself the wrong questions. Your friend's comfort is of utmost importance. He will wag his tail for you his entire life regardless of health. If he had a little trouble sleeping, maybe a hearing pad or pillow on his bed helps.
Too many try to take this decision on as what is best for themselves. What will give you and the family the most comfort rather than what will give the dog the most comfort. If he's crying and moaning, becomes incontinent, as understanding as you may be, the dog will not. Peeing on the floor in his and your home will cause stress and discomfort for the dog.
I guess I'm trying to say, he will tell you. You have to be open to trust yourself and your dog that you will know when he is telling you. It will be obvious. It will keep you up and fill you with sorrow, but you will both know. Prepare yourself and your family. It will be harder on you than your best bud. These are the times that make you your dog's best friend in the world and not just his master.

Give him some big hugs and extra pets and rubs for me tonight. Try not to worry about his last day, and enjoy your days with him.




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[PAChicky]

I've been there three times with 2 cats and a dog. My brother just lost his dog last week. It's never easy to make that decision but as others have said it's the quality of life. Both of my cats were in renal failure and I knew it was time. Our dog had cancer. When we drove him to the vet he was as happy as a clam but they told us he only had days to live amd he was starting to go downhill. He lost so much weight and wouldn't walk on his leg. We were holding him and petting him as he slipped away. We had him cremated because our kids were small and they have an urn with his picture on it. It sits on our book shelf. He will always be in your heart and you will always have your memories. Sorry you have to go through this it's never easy.

 

[hedgehog]

Winston my 14 year old lab that I`ve had since he was 6 weeks old. Sleeps right next to my bedside all these years.Diagnose with cancer 6 months ago.. He`s starting to struggle with his sleep during the night. I have to constantly give him rubs and let him out.. That I don`t mind..but it`s got to come to a point in time when it`s time to let go.. The last thing I want to see is him suffer! I owe him that much!

He still wags his tail strongly when he sees me and gets around good after a slow start. (He like all labs hips are the first to go.) He is probably 90%deaf. When he was younger I taught him sign language with the nod of my head or twist of my head.. never thought then how important that would be today.

He is family and it`s hard to say when.

Anyone else dealing or has been thru this issue before?

I've been through it twice and it sucks, I haven't had any pets in 5 years because of it. Sorry what you are going through

 

[McKenzie]

Thanks man .. I`m on that line where its quality of life and suffering..

Sorry about your cats.

It was a long time ago. It sucked but now it's over.

We adopted a stray who someone had abandoned. They must have been mean to her because she is very defensive. Very loving, though.

Anyway, good luck to you and I wish your dog the best.

 

[Scrapman]

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